The Modern Systems Analyst Introduction  The chapter will address the following questions:      What is the systems analyst’s role and responsibilities in the modern business? Why are organizations recruiting computer end-users to partner with the traditional systems analyst? What are the roles of systems analysts and business users in systems problem solving? Where are the career opportunities for systems analysts? Who are the systems analyst’s customers and partners in systems development? The Modern Systems Analyst Introduction  The chapter will address the following questions:    What business trends and drivers are influencing the careers of systems analysts? How can you prepare yourself for a career as a systems or business analyst? What does the future hold for systems analysts? The Modern Systems Analyst Who Should Read This Book  What is an Information System?   An information system is an arrangement of people, data, processes, interfaces, networks, and technology that interact for the purpose of supporting and improving both day-to-day operations in a business (sometimes called data processing), as well as supporting the problem solving and decision making needs of management (sometimes called information services) What is a Computer Application System?  A computer application is computer-based solution to one or more business problems and needs One or more computer applications are typically contained within an information system The Modern Systems Analyst Who Should Read This Book  The Systems Analyst - A Key Resource     Many organizations consider information systems and computer applications as essential to their ability to compete or gain competitive advantage Information has become a management resource equal in importance to property, facilities, employees, and capital All workers need to participate in the development of these systems and applications – not just the computer and information specialists But one specialist plays a special role in systems and applications development, the systems analyst  A systems analyst(s) facilitates the development of information systems and computer applications The Modern Systems Analyst Who Should Read This Book  The Systems Analyst - A Key Resource  The systems analyst performs systems analysis and design  Systems analysis is the study of a business problem domain for the purpose of recommending improvements and specifying the business requirements for the solution  Systems design is the specification or construction of a technical, computer-based solution for the business requirements identified in a systems analysis (Note: Increasingly, the design takes the form of a working prototype.) The Modern Systems Analyst  The Systems Analyst As A Modern Business Problem Solver Why businesses need Systems Analysts?  The system analyst bridges the communications gap between those who need the computer and those who understand the technology The Modern Systems Analyst  The Systems Analyst As A Modern Business Problem Solver What is a Systems Analyst?   Systems analysts are people who understand both business and computing Systems analysts study business problems and opportunities and then transform business and information requirements of the business into the computer-based information systems and computer applications that are implemented by various technical specialists including computer programmers The Modern Systems Analyst  The Systems Analyst As A Modern Business Problem Solver What is a Systems Analyst?  A formal definition:  A systems analyst facilitates the study of the problems and needs of a business to determine how the business system and information technology can best solve the problem and accomplish improvements for the business The product of this activity may be improved business processes, improved information systems, or new or improved computer applications frequently all three The Modern Systems Analyst  The Systems Analyst As A Modern Business Problem Solver What is a Systems Analyst?   When information technology is used, the systems analyst is responsible for:  the efficient capture of data from its business source  the flow of that data to the computer  the processing and storage of that data by the computer  the flow of useful and timely information back to the business and its people Information technology is a contemporary term that describes the combination of computer technology (hardware and software) with telecommunications technology (data, image, and voice networks) The Modern Systems Analyst  The Systems Analyst As A Modern Business Problem Solver What is a Systems Analyst?   A systems analyst is a business problem solver  A systems analyst helps the business by solving its problems using system concepts and information technology A systems analyst sell business management and computer users the services of information technology  A systems analyst sells change 10 The Modern Systems Analyst  Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst Computer Programming Experience and Expertise    A systems analyst must know how to program because they are the principle link between business users and computer programmers It is wrong to assume that a good programmer will become a good analyst or that a bad programmer could not become a good analyst Most systems analysts need to be proficient in one or more highlevel programming languages 57 The Modern Systems Analyst  Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst Computer Programming Experience and Expertise  Historically, the language of choice has been COBOL for business applications, but many organizations are shifting to visual programming languages or to object-oriented programming languages  The reasons for the shift are as follows: • The transition to graphical user interfaces • The desire to downsize applications from the mainframe to networks of PCs • The pressures to improve productivity in applications development through rapid, iterative prototyping and the reuse of programming modules called objects and components  Visual and object-oriented programming requires a completely different style of program design, construction, and testing 58 The Modern Systems Analyst  Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst General Business Knowledge    The systems analysts are expected to immerse themselves in the business and be able to specify and defend technical solutions that address the bottom-line value returned to the business Systems analysts should be able to communicate with business experts to gain knowledge of problems and needs It is not uncommon for systems analysts to develop so much expertise over time they move out of information systems and into the user community 59 The Modern Systems Analyst  Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst Problem-Solving Skills     The systems analyst must have the ability to take a large business problem, break that problem down into its component parts, analyze the various aspects of the problem, and then assemble an improved system to solve the problem The systems analyst must learn to analyze problems in terms of causes and effects rather than in terms of simple remedies The systems analyst must be well organized System analysts must be able to creatively define alternative solutions to problems and needs 60 The Modern Systems Analyst  Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst Interpersonal Communications Skills    The systems analyst must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing The systems analyst should have a good command of the English language Almost without exception, communications skills, not technical skills, prove to be the single biggest factor in career success or failure 61 The Modern Systems Analyst  Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst Interpersonal Relations Skills    Systems work is people-oriented and systems analysts must be extroverted or people-oriented Interpersonal skills help systems analysts work effectively with people Interpersonal skills are also important because of the political nature of the systems analyst's job  The systems analyst's first responsibility is to the business, its management, and its workers  The systems analyst must mediate problems between team problems and achieve benefits for the business as a whole 62 The Modern Systems Analyst  Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst Interpersonal Relations Skills  Systems analysts work in teams composed of IS professionals, end-users, and management  Being able to cooperate, to comprise, and to function as part of a team, is critical for success in most projects  Because development teams include people with dramatically different levels of education and experience, group dynamics is an important skill to develop 63 The Modern Systems Analyst  Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst Flexibility and Adaptability      No two systems development projects encountered by a systems analyst are identical There is no single, magical approach or solution applicable to systems development Successful systems analysts learn to be flexible and adapt to special challenges or situations presented by specific systems development projects The systems analyst must be able to recognize when variations upon (or single-instance exceptions to) development standards are necessary and beneficial to a particular project The systems analyst must be aware of the implications of not following the standards 64 The Modern Systems Analyst  Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst Character and Ethics    The nature of the systems analyst's job requires a strong character and sense of ethics  Ethics is a personal character trait in which an individual(s) understands the difference between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and acts accordingly Systems analysts must be very careful not to share their organization’s sensitive and secret information with others, either within or outside the organization Systems analysts must be very careful not to tell sensitive and private data and information about customers, suppliers, employees with the wrong people 65 The Modern Systems Analyst  Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst Character and Ethics   Systems analysts must not take (or sell) designs and programs they developed to another company Systems analysts have a moral obligation to set a good example for end-users and management, especially in the area of software copyrights 66 The Modern Systems Analyst  Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst Systems Analysis and Design Skills   All systems analysts need thorough and ongoing training in systems analysis and design Systems analysis and design skills can be conveniently factored into three subsets:  concepts and principles  tools  techniques 67 The Modern Systems Analyst The Next Generation  Career Prospects    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for systems analysts are expected to increase much faster than the average for all professions; even more than for programmers Depending on the economy, businesses will need between 173,000 and 264,000 new systems analysts by the year 2000 – an increase of 24 to 37 percent since 1988 Systems analyst is ranked as the 12th fastest-growing occupation between now and the year 2000 68 The Modern Systems Analyst The Next Generation  Career Prospects  Does a position as a systems analyst lead to any other careers?  Some analysts leave the information systems field and actually join the user community  Some analysts become project managers, information systems managers, or move into technical specialties (such as database, telecommunications, microcomputers, and so forth)  The opportunities are virtually limitless 69 The Modern Systems Analyst The Next Generation  Predictions   A greater percentage of tomorrow's systems analysts will not work in the information systems department, but work directly for their end-users A greater percentage of systems analysts will come from noncomputing backgrounds  Today's business and non-computing graduates are becoming more computer literate 70 The Modern Systems Analyst Summary       Introduction Who Should Read This Book The Systems Analyst As A Modern Business Problem Solver Customers, Partners and Expectations Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst The Next Generation 71 ... Systems Analyst Who Should Read This Book  The Systems Analyst - A Key Resource  The systems analyst performs systems analysis and design  Systems analysis is the study of a business problem domain... What is a Systems Analyst?   Systems analysts are people who understand both business and computing Systems analysts study business problems and opportunities and then transform business and information... special role in systems and applications development, the systems analyst  A systems analyst(s) facilitates the development of information systems and computer applications The Modern Systems Analyst